About / Who We Are

Building the infrastructure for a global animal advocacy movement

Advancing systemic change for farmed animals worldwide

AVA International equips advocates through producing impactful events and year-round collaboration. Our work strengthens strategy, funding pathways, and shared capacity across all world regions to accelerate impact at a global scale.

A woman sitting on a gray chair, holding a microphone, with a blue background and a cartoon figure of a dog drawn behind her.

Our Vision

Animal & vegan advocates of the world, You are our inspiration.

We strive for you to come together in uplifting and in-person events that catalyze collaboration, strategy, and friendship.

We strive for you to grow stronger by equipping you with skills and tools that increase your impact and your energy.

We strive for you to go further through access to funders to sustain and scale your work in communities across the world.

Imagine…

A thriving ecosystem of organizations — where regional leaders are global leaders.
A culture of fruitful dialogue — and alignment across differences.
A movement that feels unstoppable — because it is.

Together, #WeAreAVA

A group of diverse people socializing indoors with plants and natural light, some sitting, some standing, engaged in conversation.

A woman with smiling while speaking into a microphone.

Our Values

Two attendees engaged in a discussion at an event, with a banner about food, animals, and the planet in the background, in a bright, modern indoor space with large windows.

Transparency & Accountability

We operate with transparency and accountability in our decision-making.

We understand that transparency builds trust across communities, which is why our decision-making processes are available publicly. We strive for clarity in our reasoning by regularly re-evaluating our processes. In order to ensure fairness and accessibility, we actively seek feedback and hold ourselves accountable to those impacted by our work.

An exhibitor smiling and holding packages of powdered ingredients at an indoor event.

Justice & Inclusion

We are committed to justice and inclusion.

We understand that the movement for animals does not exist in isolation. Our commitment to animal and vegan advocacy is rooted in opposing harm to all sentient beings, including human beings. Just as we reject the exploitation and suffering of nonhuman animals, we stand against all forms of human oppression. We strive to create spaces that are safe, inclusive, and aligned with the values of justice and compassion for everyone.

Outdoor spaces at an AVA International events.

Courage & Care

We act with courage and care.

Building a global movement for animals requires both boldness and humility. We challenge harmful systems and narratives while remaining mindful and realistic of the complexities of cultural, economic, and social contexts. We hold space for discomfort, learning, and growth, understanding that real change often requires both patience and urgency.

Trust & Respect

We cultivate trust and respect across differences.

As a global organization, we honor the diversity of perspectives within our community. We approach all AVA’s collaborators, participants, and stakeholders with kindness, curiosity, and humility, assuming good intent while making space for dialogue and accountability. We acknowledge that trust is built through actions, not just words.

Hospitality & Empowerment

We create welcoming and empowering spaces.

Hospitality is a deeply rooted value across cultures, and we embrace it as part of our approach to organizing events. We design our spaces in ways that ensure all attendees—especially those who have faced exclusion—feel a sense of belonging. We commit to listening to and amplifying voices that have been historically marginalized. We recognize that meaningful conversations and transformative ideas only arise when people feel safe, heard, and valued.

Curious about what types of events we offer?

We host regional Summits, intensive Academies, and funder gatherings around the world — all designed to strengthen strategy, coordination, and capacity in the farmed animal advocacy movement.

Explore What We Do

Learn more about our policies and how we operate

Creating safe, accountable, and equitable spaces is core to our work. Explore our principles, safety protocols, and decision-making policies below.

Transparency & Policies

Meet the AVA Team

Alexandra Godoy

Event Manager
📍 Brazil
🗣️ English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
Amie Albright-Dunn

Head of Communications & Partnerships
📍 United States
🗣️ English, Portuguese
Aneeha Patwardhan

Head of Operations
📍 India
🗣️ English, Hindi, Marathi
Barbie Castoldi

Communications Manager
📍 Argentina
🗣️ Spanish, English, Portuguese
Brinda Poojary

Program Coordinator
📍 India
🗣️ English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tulu
Damián Sena

Graphic Designer
📍 Argentina
🗣️ Spanish, English
Julia Reinelt

Executive Director
📍 United States / Germany
🗣️ German, English, French, Spanish
Taylor Waters

Head of Programs
📍 United States
🗣️ English, Polish
Tim De Smet

AVAx Project Manager
📍 Spain
🗣️ English, Dutch, Spanish, French

Advisory Committees

AVA Summit Thailand 2026

Vadivu Govind

Inner Wealth
Community Care Advisor
Divya Ramagopal

Travel Awardee Selection Advisor
Among Prakosa

Open Wing Alliance
Program & Speaker Selection Advisor
Ella Wong

Good Growth
Program & Speaker Selection Advisor
Supaporn Kidkla

Farmed Animal Compliance Thailand (FACT)
Government, Requirements, & Logistics Advisor
Po Chisakan Ariphipat

Sinergia Animal
Communications, Messaging, & Brand Advisor
Janjaree Chianwichai

Humane World for Animals
Partnerships Advisor
Rich Lee Rasco

Youth for Just Food Systems
Youth Advisor